Excavators come in different sizes and types, and they have different attachments that help get a job done. When you hire an excavator, you know that you'll have to choose a size based on the amount of dirt that needs to be moved. But you'll also need to give details of the specific project because what you're digging for is just as important when you hire machinery.
The details of the project can inform the excavator company what special features will be necessary. Even if all you know is that you need dirt removed from a spot, you'll be able to hire the correct type of excavator.
The Depth of the Excavation
The project you're doing will need dirt removed to a certain depth. Underground pipeline repair, for example, often needs excavation to only a depth of a few feet (it's not uncommon for pipelines to be buried only about a meter underground), while an in-ground, Olympic-size pool will need somewhat deeper digging for its deep end. Mining will require even deeper digging. You wouldn't use the same excavator to remove rocky surface soil in a garden that you would to dig a deep well, for example, because you'd need a longer arm for the well.
Tight Spots and Limited Access
Accessibility to the spot is a major determinant of what type of excavator you need. Digging for a shallow pipeline in an open field with wide-open access from a road is vastly different from shallow digging done in your home's backyard because the yard likely has limited access through a side gate. You'll need a smaller excavator simply because of that narrowed access. A mine may need an excavator with a long arm, but if the channel used to transport the excavator from the mining company's equipment staging area is narrow, that's going to really affect what you can do. The same goes for digging that needs to be done around fragile structures; you wouldn't use an extra-large excavator as the arm would simply be too wide.
Water, Mud, and Rough Terrain
If you're trying to excavate an area that requires you to dig deep and remove a lot of soil, you'd think a very large, heavy-duty excavator would be what you need. It would be the right one if the ground in the excavation area was level and relatively dry and stable. If the area is rocky, you'd likely need an all-terrain excavator (sometimes called a spider excavator or walking excavator), which uses legs instead of the standard chain-type wheels that you typically see on machinery. The legs do have wheels on them, so these can be used in combination areas. They do tend to be on the more moderate side in terms of size; that makes sense when you realise that these excavators can essentially walk over rocks and down slopes and thus need to be lighter (relatively speaking) and more nimble.
Gather the details of your project and contact an excavator company. Let the staff know about any access issues, narrow passageways, known rocky terrain, steep slopes, and more. Whether the excavation takes place in a residential neighbourhood or a remote forest, there's an excavator that can do the work. Learn more by contacting companies like Statewide Hire Pty Ltd.
Hi all! My name's Ed, and welcome to my blog. Like many children, my son loved construction vehicles when he was young. However, although he grew out of the toy trucks, he never grew out of his interest in construction. When, at 18, he announced that he was going to be attending a heavy vehicle driving course and applying for jobs in the field, I decided to see what all the fuss was about myself. As it turns out, the world of construction equipment really is interesting! Since I started looking into it, my son and I have bonded over many conversations about bulldozers and excavators. Now I'm sharing some of the things we've talked about here.